Fred Meyers gives J.A. program a $1K boost...

Junior Achievement of the Kenai Peninsula recently received a major contribution from Fred Meyer’s in Soldotna. “As part of our grand opening for our newly completed remodeled store here, we decided that there would be no better way to show the community how much we appreciated their patience and regular patronage during our construction than to select five local non-profit organizations to contribute to. I chose J.A. because I have supported them in my position along with my management staff for a number of years and I was aware that they didn’t have a local budget to fall back on so we knew they would appreciate some funds that they could use locally without having to make requests from Anchorage,” explained Ron Delaney, Fred Meyer’s store director.

“Junior Achievement was so excited to learn we had received this generous check from Fred Meyer. Ron Delaney, the manager at Fred’s, made sure we were to use the funds for something JA has long been in need of above and beyond what Fred Meyer and other local businesses give each year to keep JA active,” said Febra Hensley, Kenai Peninsula Junior Achievement Chairperson. According to Hensley this year’s curriculum cost for J.A. of the Kenai Peninsula are about $5,800. “The $1,000 donation will be used for something we have never been able to purchase before because all of our funds raised go strictly to our education and materials costs,” added Hensley.

Every year J.A. of the Kenai Peninsula reaches over 400 students. Last year J.A. had 17 classes and reached 480 kids. Hensley says that Junior Achievement has been in Alaska for 34 years, first starting in the Anchorage area Elementary schools. “Now Junior Achievement has programs for each grade and age, the curriculum urges students to continue their education, look for careers that match their skills, helps them in applying for a job, performing interviews, learning how to create a budget, balance checkbooks, invest in the stock market, and save for their future,” said Hensley.

“Junior Achievement gives kids the opportunity to see what the reality of the world is like, what’s in the community and what the business world is all about, and for our employees who volunteer it lets them know that the company where they work supports their efforts as well,” said Delaney.